Khirika is an eight-year-old 3rd-grade student from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and siblings in Banteay Mean Chey province. Her father runs a coffee shop, while her mother sells clothes. She enjoys studying Khmer, playing with balls and toys with her siblings, and hopes to become a nurse in the future.
For the past year, Khirika has been experiencing a cough, an itchy throat, difficulty swallowing and breathing, loud snoring at night, and repeated episodes of pharyngitis. Her frequent throat infections and breathing difficulties can make eating and sleeping uncomfortable, while the repeated episodes of illness affect her ability to enjoy her normal activities. Khirika was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time.
Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Khirika, which is scheduled to take place on September 3rd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Khirika of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably.
Khirika’s mother said, “I hope the surgery will help my daughter breathe and swallow more easily and reduce her frequent throat infections. I want her to sleep peacefully without so much snoring and grow up healthy and active.”
